On the Road, Again.

On our way to Lakeland, Florida.....fingers crossed for an early departure, heh heh.  Don't give up on us.  Don't forget to come see me!

Relieved Quilter

Whew, I do not have to retract my Green-Eyed Monster Alert.  The first item on Jan's and my Valentine's Day agenda was food.  We had an expired Groupon coupon at Zocolo's in Shreveport.  Did that stop us?  Nope.  We headed straight to the restaurant.  To our delight, and to the manager's credit, we were given the entire value of the coupon.  Yippee.  Lunch was yummie and cost us $1.64 plus tip.  Jealous yet?   Next, we headed straight to the "Creme de la Creme" Spa to spend our second Groupon dealie.  As soon as we got through the front door, it was good.  I mean, right there in front of us was a rack of clothes on sale for $5.00--with tax! I walked right past that...NOT!!!!!  Bought two cute little tops.  Next, I was handed a pink robe with leopard trim.  Lookin' gooood.  Oh, the massage--it was wonderful.  It was actually a de-tox massage.  I was not aware that I was "toxed," but that matters not...I am now officially de-toxed and even took a nap in the process.  So, there is rest for the weary.  After I got home, my husband took me out to a lovely dinner, with gifts, no less.  And then, um, well, let's just say, it was a grr-r-r-reat day to the end--with or without Groupons. 

I hope all of you had a nice enough day to keep the Monsters at bay.  Happy Valentine's to all of you lovely folks out there!

Quilter with Purpose

This little ditty has one, and only One Purpose...to create pure unadulterated Jealousy!  Tomorrow, I am heading out with my friend, Jan, to Shreveport to get a massage.  Oh wait, I forgot that there is also a facial in the works.  And, the piece de resistance? I got it all for half price!  Any one out there noticing a stranger in your midst?  A stranger with green eyes -- a MONSTER perhaps??  Terrific.  Say, "Hi," to him because we are very well acquainted.

Of course, if this massage turns out like the last one, that Monster is wasting his time.

Quilt Sisters at Heart

As I mentioned yesterday, I was so delighted by Anna's email. Then, I checked out her blog and could not believe my eyes.  She had one of my quilts posted on her page.  Just kidding. I just really really wanted it! I like to think that it even looked like my quilts. In fact, I have two heart quilts that I have never even shown before.  Here is a peek at the smaller one.  Think she'll trade?  heh heh  One can only dream.....

Happy Valentine's Day 
    my sweet readers!

This Quilter is Totally Wowed!!!

I woke up to the most delightful email.  A young lady from Iceland found my quilt block from CBS Sunday morning and wrote me this letter:

Halló Dianne

I found your wonderful quilt block this morning on Google - on this dark rainy morning in Northern Iceland - and just looking at it made me smile.

Well I decided to put a smile on my friends faces too so I featured your block and blog this morning on the Icelandic Quilters Forum on Facebook - Íslenska bútasaumssíðan

I hope you have a nice Sunday today!:o)

http://www.facebook.com/islenska.butasaumssidan

Kveðja from The Skagafjörður Fjord - North Iceland 

Anna Margrét Árnadóttir

  Does is get any sweeter than that?   Well, it just might.  While reading threads from her blog, I came across this:  (If this does not blow you away, well, I am not even gonna say anything else.....)

World of WearableArt Hits Hong Kong

www.youtube.com

Wanna Know a Secret?

The "secret?"  I just pretend that I have something to say.  Of course, if you have been at all observant, you already knew that.....On the days that I do not write, I stop pretending.  So you see, I prefer pretending; I like LaLa Land. 

 In my pretend world, all is right with the world.  People are nice to one another because all the bad-acting folks are gone to their just rewards where they are treated like they treated others  and all the kind-hearted, well-intentioned folks are with us, forever.  The best part?  I am the Judge, heh heh.  So, be nice, read my blog, and say beautiful things about whatever it is I write.....

Quilter Knows a Celebrity

Bill Joyce, the guy behind "Toy Story" and several other movies/books, is from Shreveport.  And, I know him!!  How cool is that?  I just found out that he has been nominated for an Academy Award!!  Really.  He used to be the neighbor of my husband's business partner.  So, the truth comes out. He is really my husband's friend.  The weird thing is that I met him at an Art conference many years ago.  I just was blown away by this guy.  Get this-- Bill and his family and friends would dress in all white and then go outside to play croquet in the middle of the night.  They would light the lawn with the headlights of cars in the neighborhood.  How fun is that!  Where were these guys when I was growing up?  Oh wait, they weren't born, yet.

How Quickly I Forget

Hrmph.  I almost forgot how much work it is to prepare for the next show.  So much for that momentary surge towards quilting. I have actually worn a blister on my hand from cutting out fabric.  I decided a while back that I would never cut fat quarters...definitely not worth the effort.  Silly me.  Wouldn't one think that by this ripe old age I would have hit the delete button on words like "never?"  So much for never, for definitely.....I have been cutting fat quarters alllll day long.  Now to fold, and label, and pack them.  We will see what happens with those.

The trouble is that I am getting dangerously close to running out of my fabric line.  Soon there will be nada mas, none, kaput.  How much do I cling to?   I have been asking myself is cutting off and keeping the selvedges enough to satisfy my ego?  sheesh.  My ego is WA-A-A-y more needy than that.  I want yardage!

Squeezing in Some Quilting

Yes'm.  I am actually squeezing in some actual sewing.  These are some of the blocks that I have finished.  Of course, this is not on that infamous List.  Why would I put it there?  It would never get done....

I have changed the design at least three times so far.  Who knows what it will end up like.  Certainly not I.  My daughter thinks I should be recording what I am doing so I can write the directions.  HA.  So far, every single block is different and I have completed 18 at this point. That would be the directions from Hell, at least for me to write.  So, no, this will not go into my repertoire of quilt patterns.  Come see me, come see the quilt.  Call when you are in town!

Oops. Gotta get the blood circulating in my butt and get 'er done before dark.....

Quilter has ALL the Answers

OK, so I don't have ALLL the answers.  However,  I do know the answer to my question about in which state the "dry" county is located --- TA DA, it is Arkansas.

Quilter's Voice

Nah, you do not wanna hear my voice.  I might have already told this, but, when I was teaching a few years ago, one of my students asked if I could sing.  I told them that I could make a lot of money singing.  Their eyes lit up, anticipating me, breaking out in song.   I continued, "Yes, indeed.  Folks would throw tons of money at me on stage....bribing me to STOP, quickly, immediately, the sooner the better.......

However --Anyone watching "Voice?"  Waaaay cool. I am so addicted to these various talent-seeking shows.  I love "America's Got Talent," "X Factor," "Sing," well, all of them.  It is like winning the lottery for these guys, only better because they actually do something to increase their odds.  Not only are we entertained, we get to watch them grow, becoming more and more attached on a more personal level. Suckers...that is what we are, at least it is what I am.  Totally hooked, connecting to the individual-  selling records for these people even before the record is one note in.  You know what?  If that does make me a sucker, then start lickin' because I am the flavor of the day.....

Quilter's Contest

Imagine there is a county that is voted "Dry," but still manages to issue five liquor licenses.  How to parcel these precious babies out?  Who are the "lucky" ones who win them? 

The first one goes to a Golf Club.  I mean, those guys certainly keep better scores with a little alcohol in their bags, right?

The second license, awarded to a bar that no one can seem to find, anywhere.

Miraculously, the third one actually ended up in a local restaurant, (the only half way decent restaurant in town) --hey, the ones who issued these licenses had to have somewhere to go to discuss the laws of the land. One simply cannot do this job completely sober.

Oh, wait.  There are two more. Both of these were purchased by the local churches so no one else could have them.

The next question....who can guess in which state this county is located?   A free pattern goes to the first correct answer!  

Quilter's Review

Oh my gosh.  Check out the latest review of the book.  Click on the link in the Thread below and get wowed, heh heh.

Quilter Needs Feedback

Ok, BFF and some who might not necessarily be my BF's forever, readers, quilters, and supporters-in-any-way, you, too, can write and publish a review....of my BOOK, of course.  If you have used, played with, or read my new book, Scrap-O-Lator Quilts and More, please let me know what you think and I will send it on to AQS.  Or, you can go directly to the AQS site  http://www.americanquilter.com/books_supplies/item_detail.php?id=8665 and write it directly on that page.  Remember, I cry, a lot, if folks are not nice.  If you think of something, gulp, bad, why don't you let me know through ESP.  That way I put it through my magic filter and it still comes out nice, heh heh

Totally Frustrated Quilter

First, the most obvious reason I am frustrated---I am NOT quilting.  However, I am even more frustrated about the situation with my house.  A little background.  I have two walls in my living room that are covered in gold leaf.  I did this several years ago when gold leaf was waaaaay less $$.  Still, costly, but, do-able, especially when I am the do-er.  Well, when the water invaded our house back in June and the floors were damaged, the wood flooring had to be removed.  The guys who were doing the removal of the existing floors, banged up the gold leaf walls.  Now, I was in the middle of creating my book, making my quilts, rugs, lamps, going to shows, etc, and trying to select flooring, paint, etc, and then deal with my sister's death, yada yada yada, not to mention dealing with the insurance company.  Finally, I am home more than a couple of days.  I called the flooring folks who sent they guys out in the first place.  They are now refusing to accept the fact that their guys did the "deed," saying that I waited too long to tell them about the damage.  Heck, the insurance company gives me two years to make additional claims.  Besides, the guy in charge of the removal fired the workers because of what they were doing.  The flooring folks say this is "heresay."  They have "no idea who did the damage, when it was done, etc."  I am considering a Hit man.....woman, whatever....a Voodoo doll should do.

Once upon a time, several years ago, when I was having huge issues with my daughter-in-law-from-Hell, (can you believe the irony--her name is Angela)  I happened to be visiting in Mexico.  There was a Witch Doctor who would go around the house each night shaking a snake to ward off evil spirits.  I asked if he did Voodoo.  The folks there eyed me suspiciously and said, "Um, he is a good Witch Doctor."  My answer,  "This would be a Good Thing!"  So, now, I repeat, where is a Good Witch Doctor when I need one?